Thread by @nicholadrummond

TIGER RE-APPRAISED (Thread)
The Panzerkampfwagen VI or Tiger I is one of the most iconic tanks of WW2, if not all time. Despite its fame and the many books written about it over the years, only recently has a true picture of its technical performance emerged.
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A revised view is due to @TankMuseum which owns Tiger 131, captured in Tunisia in April, 1943. One of seven surviving Tigers, it's the only example in working order. The restoration process and experience gained running it have added new data to the historical record.
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Another source of fresh insight is @bruce_newsome's books that provide a forensic analysis of official wartime reports. Obfuscation of the true facts was due to Allied propaganda that played down the Tiger’s strengths and the lack of surviving German archive material.
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Unfortunately, many of books written about the Tiger I, including some published as recently as 2011, perpetuate myths based on false facts. The aim of this thread is to correct the most common myths so that this tank can be seen for what it actually was.
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Myth 1: The Tiger was unreliable. No user complaints about reliability can be found in the surviving German archive. @TankMuseum reports high engineering standards, high quality components and a spacious and well-ventilated engine compartment that avoids overheating.
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Myth 2: The Tiger went very few miles between services. Official wartime reports state the distance between base overhauls was 5,000 km. The only Allied tank to approach this figure was the M4A2 Sherman, with 3,200 km between overhauls, due to having a diesel engine.
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Myth 3: The Tiger was slow. The tank’s top speed was 28 mph (44 kph) which was faster than most Allied medium tanks. Its wide tracks and well-spaced road wheels gave it a relatively low ground pressure and thus good off-road performance.
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Myth 4: The Tiger was underpowered. The 12-cylinder Maybach HL210 P45 engine had 485 kW (650 hp). Later, a more powerful unit with 521 kW (700 bhp) was fitted. This was the most powerful engine used in any WW2 tank and gave it a good power-to-weight ratio for the time.
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Myth 5. The Tiger’s transmission broke easily. The Tiger had an extremely dependable semi-automatic hydraulic gearbox. Although sophisticated, it seldom broke and made the tank easy to drive. This was in fact a British design copied by the Germans.
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Myth 6. The Tiger’s interlaced road wheels gave it a mobility disadvantage. Though difficult to change, interlaced road wheels reduced pressure points along the length of the track. This meant that it turned more easily and was less likely to throw a track.
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Conceived as an assault tank, the Tiger was mainly used defensively, in situations where the Wehrmacht was retreating not advancing. Lacking the same level of equipment support that Allied tank crews took for granted explains why so many were scuttled or left behind.
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Despite weighing 57 metric tonnes, the Tiger was much more agile and manoeuvrable than many writers give it credit for. Ultimately, the only serious drawbacks were that it was expensive and difficult to produce. Only 1,347 were made.
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The Tiger's 88 mm gun could pierce the frontal armour of any Allied tank at 2,000 metres making it a formidable weapon. Despite a wealth of anecdotes relating to its performance in battle, it was never available in sufficient quantity to contribute a decisive effect.
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To find out more about more, I thoroughly recommend
@bruce_newsome books (see Amazon). Also @SofiGaming has produced an excellent video interview with the author on YouTube. Finally, if you haven't been to
@TankMuseum, it is worth the trip. END
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